Talley’s shot lifts Patriots to win

Following Albemarle’s win over Commonwealth District foe Colonial Forge last week — the Patriots’ first triumph over the Eagles in three years — coach Carroll Bickers’ team wanted to keep the ball rolling on Tuesday, as they hosted another district rival, North Stafford.

The Patriots combined solid performances by senior leaders Vince Coles and Tyler Molinaro with a big blast off of the bat of junior Rashad Talley to rally and eventually hold off the Wolverines, 8-7.

“It looked like deja vu. It looked like the [Albemarle] team from last year,” Bickers said of his team’s gutsy play. “[North Stafford is] a good team, they kept battling back, and that’s how our district is.”

North Stafford took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning, and Albemarle (5-2, 3-1 Commonwealth)  bounced back in the bottom half, thanks in large part to a towering two-run shot by Molinaro to put Albemarle on top. Another senior, Adam Utz, followed that up with a base hit, and Jay Schwab brought Utz in to score, and the Patriots led 3-1.

Lucas Suarez pulled North Stafford closer with a run in the fourth, and Coles scored one of his two runs in the same inning to push the lead back to two, 4-2.

The Wolverines’ bats came alive in the fifth as Albemarle starter Dokota Rothgeb gave up back-to-back doubles to start the frame. Josh Sites came in to relieve Rothgeb, but North Stafford continued the assault with a double steal and two RBI singles, and the Patriots found themselves trailing 5-4.

Coles, who went 0 for 2, walked for the second time to lead off the sixth and made his presence felt despite a sub-par offensive output. The speedy 5-foot-9 centerfielder stole second and third base on the following two pitches and represented the tying run.

The Wolverines intentionally walked Molinaro, who was 3 for 3 with three RBI, and Utz then hit a shot to shallow center that dropped in to score Coles from third.

That set the stage for Talley, who had been in a lengthy slump at the plate. On a 2-2 count, Talley smacked a Robert Gallet pitch over the fence in left to give his team an 8-5 advantage.

“[Coles] makes things happen. He’s like a catalyst,” said Bickers. “Even when he doesn’t get the base hits, when he gets on base, they know he can run.”

Bickers said that Talley was due for a big moment, and couldn’t be happier for his outfielder.

“He had been struggling for a while, and I said darn if he wasn’t due. I thought it was a good piece of hitting on two strikes,” he said. “He’s been working hard and he’s got the right attitude, and I’m really proud of him and all the guys.”

Talley added: “It was a big momentum-changer, really big for the team.”

When asked how good it felt to break out of the slump in grand fashion, he simply replied, “It was a huge relief.”

North Stafford (3-3, 1-3) still had a chance, though, and scored its first two batters in the seventh to cut the Albemarle lead back to just one, and pitcher Jason White informed Bickers that he wasn’t hitting his spots. The bases were loaded with one out, and Molinaro was called to the mound.

Once again, Molinaro delivered in the clutch as he got Sean Kennedy to ground into a double play to seal the victory.

Up next for Albemarle is a road game today at Waynesboro, followed by another important district game at Massaponax.